10.3
Night Flying Techniques.
10.3. Night Flying Techniques.
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10.3.1. Pilots should ensure all transparencies are clean prior to flight. Make certain ground personnel remove spots and dirt on the windshield. Scratches and dirt cause reflections and can be disorienting during night ops.
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10.3.2. During ground ops, ensure all required exterior and interior lights are operational.
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10.3.3. Keep cockpit lights turned down to a comfortable level. As vision adapts to night conditions, turn lights down to the lowest possible level that still allows instruments to be easily read. This is especially important in the traffic pattern as canopy glare from excessively bright interior lights can seriously restrict visibility.
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10.3.4. Pilots should know the location of all important switches and control levers by touch. Use caution to prevent operation of the wrong switch in a dim or dark cockpit.
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10.3.5. Always carry an operable flashlight IAW AFMAN 11-202V3. With electrical failure, a flashlight may be the only means of checking STBY instruments, checklists, and maps. Pilots should store their flashlight in a readily accessible place.
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10.3.6. The T-6 lighting system consists of red and white lights for the cockpit and instrument panel. These lights can be adjusted for intensity and are used separately or in combination to optimize cockpit lighting. To avoid eyestrain and keep canopy reflections to a minimum, adjust instrument lights to the minimum level necessary. As eyes adapt to the dark, even a momentary glance at a bright light can destroy this adaptation. It can be difficult to distinguish objects outside the cockpit until the eyes readapt.
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10.3.7. The introduction of Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) presents additional challenges for night operations. Pilots must be aware of the risks associated with having an extra screen, which could be very bright and positioned variably. It is crucial for all EFB users to become familiar with the device's settings and select a luminosity level that does not hinder night vision. Dark modes are highly recommended. Additionally, SENTRY pucks, commonly used with ForeFlight, have bright LED status lights that may need to be dimmed through software on the EFB.
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